Lavender Oil in Spa Treatments

Spas have been around for centuries. The Greeks and the Romans were addicted to them. They were the only way to get clean in those days so it wasn’t really an addiction; they were a necessity. Lavender oil and lavender leaves were used back then to relax the body as well as remove the nasty road and village stench that was part of everyday life. Dried lavender leaves were strategically placed around the spa so the aroma could permeate the walls and ceiling. Leaves were also thrown on the stone floors to disinfect them.

After a few centuries of being exclusive haunts for the rich and famous, spas have finally made it to mainstream living. Visits to day spas and weekly spas has become an important part of healthcare for some people, and a soothing way to break down the anxiety and stress of working endless hours for others. Spas are designed to flaunt the freshness in vitality and capture the breath of wellness in old age. Most of them pamper the baby in us, which longs to be touched in order to feel safe as well as comfortable.

The essential oils that most spas use are similar. They are literally hundreds of oils and combinations of oils to use in a spa treatment, but most day spas stick to the top performers when it comes to relaxing, soothing, and scenting the body and the mind. Some spa operators may argue, but lavender oil is probably the number one oil used in spa massages and other treatments. Lavender is usually combined with other oils to relieve muscle aches, stress, anxiety, and fatigue as well as scent the body after a treatment.

It’s true. Lavender is a spa rock star; without it spas would have to depend on jasmine, eucalyptus, ginger, and citrus oils for everything, and the results would not be the same.

 

What Makes Lavender Oil Such A Necessity?

 

Some experts say that lavender oil is a necessity because our ancestors used it for almost everything thousands of years ago. Lavender is part of our genetic makeup, which is not a far-fetched statement when the chemical compounds in lavender are examined. Lavender contains essential esters, ketones, aldehydes, sesquiterpene alcohols, monoterpene alcohols, phenols, and terpenes hydrocarbons that have a number of influential properties.

face massage at a spa

Those properties give lavender antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and sedative properties along with antibacterial and therapeutic properties. So a spa treatment is more than just a muscle relaxing exercise when lavender is used; it is a total mind-body healing experience. The aroma has an impact on the emotions, and the chemicals in the oil can help relieve symptoms of several health issues like acne, anxiety, stress, and mild depression.

The medical profession and the insurance industry have other thoughts about the therapeutic properties of a lavender spa treatment, but those thoughts are gradually expanding. Some loyal lavender users say it’s about time. The results of lavender spa treatments have been documented for over 2,500 years.

 

Lavender Oil in Spa Treatments

 

Lavender Essential Oil